1750 to 1900

• What was the population of Manchester in 1750?

  17,000
• What was the population of Manchester by 1850?

  One third of a million people
• What caused vitamin deficiencies in early nineteenth-century Manchester?

  An absence of sunlight due to thick smoke
• What diseases flourished in Manchester's overcrowded houses?

  Tuberculosis and typhus
• What was the average life expectancy in Manchester in 1841?

  26.6 years
• Who was James Palfreyman?

  A healthy 29-year-old man who died of cholera in 1832
• When did cholera first appear in Britain?

  October 1831
• How many people died from cholera in England and Scotland by autumn 1832?

  31,000 people
• What was the outcome of the cholera outbreaks in 1831 and 1848?

  They shocked authorities into action for public health improvements
• What did the authorities begin to provide after the cholera outbreaks?

  Clean water and proper sewerage
• What were the three major changes in people's health from 1750 to 1900?

  • Industrialisation and urbanisation created a public health crisis.
  • Cholera outbreaks in 1831-32 killed thousands and prompted action.
  • Public health campaigns from the 1830s led to significant health improvements.
• What was the population of Britain in 1750?

  6 million
• What was the population of Britain by 1900?

  37 million
• How did improvements in agriculture affect Britain's population?

  They prevented starvation despite low wages
• What did George Mitchell sometimes eat due to hunger?

  Turnips and snails
• What was the impact of industrialisation on air quality in cities?

  It created thick smog from factory emissions
• What were the working hours for children in Manchester's factories?

  From 5 am to 6 pm with short breaks
• What was the reality of factory work compared to its portrayal in positive images?

  It was grim with dusty air and common accidents
• What significant event happened in 1832 related to cholera?

  James Palfreyman died, marking the first cholera death in Manchester
• What was the extent of the British Empire by 1900?

  Britain ruled one-fifth of the world's land and a quarter of the world's population
• How did railways impact urban environments?

  They brought fresh food but also added to pollution
• What was the effect of new scientific thinking on people's beliefs during this period?

  It led to a shift towards secularism and challenged religious views
• Who was Louis Pasteur and what was his discovery?

  He discovered that harmful germs could cause disease
• What was the impact of growing literacy in Britain during this period?

  It fueled demand for newspapers and improved education
• What was the significance of the 1832 Reform Act?

  It expanded voting rights to property-owning men
• How did class divisions manifest in Victorian Britain?

  Wealthy families moved to suburbs while the poor lived in slums
• What was the role of the Temperance Movement in the nineteenth century?

  It aimed to reduce alcohol consumption
• What were the main reasons for the public health crisis in early industrial Britain?

  1. Rapid urban growth overwhelmed infrastructure.
  2. Housing supply could not meet demand.
  3. Poor living conditions led to disease.
  4. Lack of clean water and sanitation.
  5. Overcrowding in industrial cities.
• What diseases were common in early industrial towns?

  Tuberculosis, typhoid, and diphtheria
• What percentage of children born in working-class districts of Manchester died before age five in 1842?

  57 percent
• How did landlords respond to the demand for housing during the industrial boom?

  They built houses quickly and cheaply for profit
• What was the condition of housing for industrial workers in early industrial towns?

  Cramped, squalid, and lacking basic amenities
• What were the living conditions of industrial workers in the early nineteenth century?

  They lived in cramped, squalid houses close to factories.
• Why was running water rare for industrial workers?

  Few houses had running water and hardly any were connected to sewers.
• What was a common sanitation issue faced by families in industrial areas?

  Several families often shared a single privy.
• What diseases were common in the early industrial period?

  Killer diseases included tuberculosis, typhoid, and diphtheria.
• What percentage of children born in working-class districts of Manchester died before the age of five in 1842?

  57 percent
• What were the five main reasons for terrible living conditions in the first half of the nineteenth century?

  1. Towns and cities grew incredibly quickly.
  2. The supply of houses could not keep up with demand.
  3. Town government was weak.
  4. There were no laws to ensure decent housing and protect health.
  5. People did not yet know that germs caused disease.
• How did the rapid growth of towns and cities affect living conditions?

  The existing infrastructure could not cope with the increase in numbers.
• Why did landlords build houses quickly and cheaply?

  Landlords could make big profits from renting homes to industrial workers.